By Tiffany Williams –
PAWTUCKET, R.I. — For three quarters, Rhode Island and Elon were locked in a defensive battle in which points were scarce, turnovers mattered and neither offense could establish control. Then Rhode Island took over the fourth quarter.
The Rams scored 28 points over the final 15 minutes, turning a 3-3 game into a 31-10 victory over Elon on Saturday at Centreville Bank Stadium. Rhode Island improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play, while Elon fell to 2-1 and 0-1. The game drew an announced crowd of 4,306.
Elon actually finished with more total offense, 306 yards to Rhode Island’s 286, and Kamerin McDowell-Moore rushed for 117 yards on 23 carries. But five Elon turnovers, including four interceptions, proved devastating. Rhode Island’s defense intercepted four passes, returned one for a touchdown and repeatedly gave its offense opportunities to take control.
Rhode Island won the opening coin toss and deferred, giving Elon the football first. The Phoenix began at their own 25 and immediately moved the chains. TJ Crews IV connected with Dylan Magazu for nine yards before Crews converted third-and-one with a two-yard run. The opening possession ended abruptly, however, when Andre DePina-Gray intercepted Crews at the Rhode Island 34 and returned the football 19 yards to the Elon 47.
The Rams could not capitalize. A personal foul pushed Rhode Island backward, and after Tyler Budge gained 15 yards on third-and-25, Randy Leavitt punted into the end zone. Elon responded with one of its better sustained drives of the opening quarter, moving from its own 20 into Rhode Island territory behind McDowell-Moore and completions from Crews. The Phoenix reached the Rams’ 38 before consecutive incompletions forced another punt.
Rhode Island went three-and-out on its next possession, and Elon took over at midfield after Josiah Payton returned the punt 14 yards. This time the Rams’ pass rush changed the series. Chaas McCoy dropped Crews for a six-yard loss on first down, and Case Mankins followed with an eight-yard sack on third down. Connor Dunn was forced to punt, and the score remained 0-0.
The defenses continued controlling the game. Rhode Island managed only six yards before Leavitt unloaded a 66-yard punt that pinned Elon at its own 15. The Phoenix began moving again as the quarter ended, with McDowell-Moore running for six yards and Crews finding Magazu for 11 more. The teams entered the second quarter still scoreless.
Elon’s promising drive immediately turned into another Rhode Island takeaway. McDowell-Moore carried twice for 11 yards to reach the Elon 43, but Lubin Trey sacked Crews on the next snap, forced a fumble and recovered it himself at the Elon 44. Rhode Island again had excellent field position, but Elon’s defense answered. Dillon Pardue sacked Budge for a seven-yard loss, and the Rams eventually punted without scoring.
Elon continued finding ways to move the football without producing points. A Rhode Island personal foul helped the Phoenix advance from their own 20, and Crews later hit Kenaz McMillian for 22 yards to the Rams’ 39. A false start and three unsuccessful passing plays stalled the possession, however, and Carter Stimson’s punt went into the end zone. Rhode Island followed with another three-and-out.
The Phoenix finally broke through with 4:44 remaining in the first half. McDowell-Moore ripped off consecutive runs of 16 and 10 yards as Elon marched from its own 39 to the Rhode Island 28. The Rams stopped Crews one yard behind the line on third-and-two, but Luke Barnes came on and drilled a 46-yard field goal to give Elon a 3-0 advantage.
Rhode Island could not answer on its next possession, but Elon had another opportunity before halftime. Crews moved the Phoenix into Rams territory before Barnes attempted a 59-yard field goal with 43 seconds remaining. Mankins blocked the kick, and Rhode Island recovered at its own 48. Budge quickly moved the Rams into scoring range, including a 19-yard fourth-down completion to Kevin Green Jr. that reached the Elon 19. Ty Groff attempted a 36-yard field goal on the final play of the half, but the kick was no good, leaving Elon ahead 3-0.
The third quarter opened with another major defensive play. After Rhode Island began at its 25, Budge was intercepted by Eric Jones, who returned the football 14 yards to the Rhode Island 35. McDowell-Moore then carried the Phoenix offense, rushing for 28 yards on his first three attempts of the possession and helping Elon reach the Rams’ 3. The opportunity disappeared when Barnes missed a 21-yard field goal, keeping the margin at three.
Rhode Island finally put points on the board with 6:33 remaining in the third. Budge converted a third-and-five with a five-yard completion to Marquis Buchanan and later connected with Jamall Mensah for 31 yards to the Elon 35. The Phoenix defense prevented a touchdown, but Josh Hamel converted a 51-yard field goal to tie the game 3-3.
Elon threatened to answer immediately when Crews connected with Magazu for 36 yards to the Rhode Island 39. The Rams’ defense again responded, with Crews getting sacked for a seven-yard loss before an incompletion on third-and-15. Dunn’s punt rolled to the Rhode Island 2, seemingly putting the Rams in a terrible position with 4:21 remaining in the third quarter. Instead, it became the possession that changed the game.
Rhode Island proceeded to drive 98 yards on 18 plays while consuming 8:31. Terrence Campbell began the possession with runs of three and four yards before Budge converted third down with a completion to Mensah. An Elon pass-interference penalty moved Rhode Island to its 28, and the Rams steadily worked their way downfield. Budge connected with Aboraa Kwarteng for 13 yards, while BJ Barrow and Campbell kept the chains moving on the ground.
The drive continued into the fourth quarter with the game still tied. Campbell converted third-and-two with a nine-yard run to the Elon 27, and Budge followed with a seven-yard run before finding Buchanan for six yards and another first down. Campbell appeared to score on a 14-yard run, but a holding penalty erased the touchdown. Rhode Island did not fold. Budge responded by hitting Green for 20 yards to the Elon 3, and another Elon pass-interference penalty moved the football to the 2.
Elon stopped Budge on first down and held him to one yard on second down. Campbell was then stuffed on third-and-one, setting up the defining fourth-down decision. Rhode Island kept its offense on the field, handed the football back to Campbell, and he powered across the goal line from one yard out. Groff added the extra point, completing the 98-yard march and giving Rhode Island a 10-3 lead with 10:50 remaining.
From there, the game changed rapidly.
Elon turned to Tanner Payne at quarterback on its next possession. After a delay-of-game penalty and a five-yard McDowell-Moore run, Payne threw incomplete on second down. On third-and-10, Tyson Grimm intercepted him at the Rhode Island 39. The Rams had their third interception of the afternoon and another chance to extend the lead.
Rhode Island took advantage. Budge found Kwarteng for a 31-yard completion to the Elon 25, and an Elon pass-interference penalty later moved the Rams inside the 10. On second-and-goal from the 7, Budge found Buchanan for the touchdown. Groff’s extra point made it 17-3 with 5:51 remaining, completing a seven-play, 61-yard scoring drive that consumed 4:07.
Only 33 seconds later, Rhode Island’s defense struck again. Payne attempted a pass from the Elon 25, but Mitchell Garner intercepted it at the 30 and raced untouched into the end zone for a pick-six. Groff converted the extra point, and a game that had been tied 3-3 entering the fourth quarter was suddenly 24-3 with 5:18 remaining.
Elon refused to go quietly. Crews returned at quarterback and, facing third-and-six from his own 30, connected with Alex Voss for 35 yards to the Rhode Island 35. On the very next play, Crews went deep again and found Zimere Winston for a 35-yard touchdown. Barnes added the extra point, cutting Rhode Island’s advantage to 24-10 with 3:53 remaining.
Rhode Island recovered Elon’s ensuing onside kick at the Elon 47 but could not put the game away offensively, eventually punting to the Elon 1. The Rams’ defense made sure the Phoenix would get no closer. After Crews gained one yard and McDowell-Moore added two, Crews threw on third-and-seven from his own 4. Moses Meus intercepted the pass at the Elon 7 and returned it four yards to the 3, giving Rhode Island its fourth interception of the game.
The Rams converted that final takeaway into one more touchdown. After an incompletion and a Campbell run that went nowhere, Budge found Kwarteng for three yards and the score with 55 seconds remaining. Groff’s fourth extra point of the quarter made it 31-10, completing Rhode Island’s 28-point fourth-quarter explosion.
Elon ran two final rushing plays before the clock expired, sealing Rhode Island’s 31-10 victory. The final numbers reflected just how unusual the game had been: Elon outgained Rhode Island 306-286 and produced 16 first downs to Rhode Island’s 15, yet the Rams turned five Phoenix turnovers into the decisive advantage. Rhode Island also controlled the football for 10:22 of the fourth quarter while Elon possessed it for only 4:38.
Budge completed 15 of 28 passes for 178 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Kwarteng led Rhode Island with four receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown, while Buchanan caught four passes for 25 yards and another score. Barrow led the Rams on the ground with 46 yards on 14 carries, and Campbell scored Rhode Island’s lone rushing touchdown.
For Elon, Crews completed 11 of 22 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice and sacked four times. Payne went 0-for-3 with two interceptions. McDowell-Moore was the Phoenix’s most productive offensive player, finishing with 117 rushing yards on 23 carries, while Magazu caught three passes for 56 yards and Winston supplied Elon’s only touchdown on his 35-yard reception in the fourth quarter.
The story, however, was Rhode Island’s defense and a fourth quarter that completely transformed the game. What had been a 3-3 defensive struggle after 45 minutes became a decisive Rams victory as Rhode Island scored three offensive touchdowns, added Garner’s 30-yard interception return for another and forced three fourth-quarter interceptions to finish off Elon, 31-10.